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July 31, 1956 H. GANG 2,756,933

VALUE ENTERING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed April 6. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'Illllllnlun.

3nventor HERMAN GA NG H GANG VALUE ENTERING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed April 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Isnvcntor HERMAN GA NG f; b I

Ghomcg United States Patent VALUE ENTERING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Herman Gang, Livingston, N. J., assignor to Monroe Calculating Machine Company, Orange, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application April 6, 1951, Serial No. 219,620 4 Claims. (Cl. 235-79) The present invention relates to value entering means for calculating machines, and more particularly to means for entering selected digital values into differentially settable actuating mechanism for accumulator registers thereof.

In certain types of calculating machines, the rotary differential actuators for the accumulator register are set directly by depression of selected digital value keys. Obviously, this lends to relatively high resistance to key depression and requires fine adjustment of the parts to equalize the resistance. Another type of machine employs a setting clutch which operates prior to the main clutch to set the rotary digital actuators. Depression of the digital value keys, however, operates to set associated mechanism which controls the setting operation, and therefore ease and uniformity of key depression is only partially achieved. In another type of machine, a setting train for each rotary diiferential actuator includes a component of the actuator itself. The setting train is adjustable to effect the setting during an idle phase of operation of the actuator under control of a previously set digital value key. Depression of the key operates only to position its stem to controlling position and, therefore, easy key operation is achieved. However, the arrangement greatly increases the mass of the actuator. In still another prior art setting mechanism, the actuators are set and restored upon each cycle of operation. The aforenoted structures and operation characteristcs obviously militate against high speed operation.

The value entering devices of the present invention provide that depression of settable digital value keys operates only to position their stems to control differential operation of setting trains for entering the selected values into differentially settable rotary actuators of the accumulator register. Furthermore, the setting trains are structionally and operatively independent of said actuators and are operated during the idle phase of only the first of a plurality of cycles of operation thereof. Thus, the disadvantages of the aforenoted prior art setting devices are avoided. During the registering operation another value may be set in the digital value keys without disturbing the adjustment of the digital actuator. The machine, therefore, may be prepared for a subsequent registering operation during the current one.

The invention is particularly adaptable to the type of machine fully disclosed in applicants Patent No. 2,531,207 and in which type of machine the invention is herein disclosed. In this type of machine, the register actuating mechanism has an idle phase at the beginning of its cycle of operation and it is during this idle phase that the setting trains are operated to set the digital actuators. The operational characteristics of this type of machine are fully set forth in Patent No. 1,566,650 to George C. Chase. The invention, however, will best be understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation of a calculating machine embodying the invention with the side frame partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of one of the value selection keys and the associated setting and latching slides.

Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the one of the differentially operable setting trains in an operated position,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of one of the digital actuator units and parts of the setting means therefor.

Fig. 5 is detail front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Registering mechanism The wheels 1 of the accumulator register (Fig. l) are mounted in the shiftable carriage 2 and are driven by digital actuators 3 and tens transfer actuators 4 through intermediate gears 5 and 6. Digital actuators 3 and tens transfer actuators 4 are mounted on shafts 7 and 8 respectively and are driven either forwardly or reversely at a one to one ratio by a gear train 10 which is exterior of the right side frame. To show the continuity of gear train 10, the portion where the side frame is broken away is shown inphantom dot-dash lines. Gear train 10 is driven by a motor through a reversible clucth transmission and a friction clutch which transmits power to a shaft 11 on which one of the drive gears of the train is mounted. Carriage 2 is denominationally shiftable to the right or left by the reversible clutch transmission through another friction clutch which is engaged upon disengagement of the friction clutch for the actuator drive. However, the drive means and the controls thereof for the actuating and carriage shifting mechanism are not shown as they form no part of the present invention and reference is made to applicants aforenoted Patent No. 2,531, 207 for a complete disclosure thereof.

Digital actuators 3 (Figs. 1, 4, 5) extend ordinally across the machine between the side frames. Each actuator 3 comprises a pair of stepped gears 3a and 3b which are splined on shaft 7 and are urged outwardly from each other by a spring 12 into engagement with cam plates 14 and 16 respectively. When a pair of actuator gears 3a and 3b are in their zero or unset positions, they are operated inefiectively at opposite sides of the related intermediate gear 5 as shown in Fig. 5.

By means hereinafter described, digital actuator gears 3a and 3b are differentially adjustable inwardly toward one another by cam plates 14 and 16 respectively and thereupon are operable to effect digital actuation. Each gear 3a comprises three stepped teeth and is aiforded three steps of inward adjustment to bring one, two or three of the teeth into driving relation with the related intermediate gear 5. Thus digital actuation of one to three is effected by actuator gear 3a. Each gear 312 comprises a series of four and a series of two teeth in stepped relation and is afforded two steps of inward adjustment to bring the series of six or the series of four teeth into driving relation with gear 5 thereby providing for the registration of digital values six and four respectively. The digital registration of five," seven, eight and nine is effected by combined operation of gears 3a and 3b wherein both gears are adjusted to effect the required tooth combinations. It will be obvious, however, that gears 3a, 3b could be constructed with other combinations of teeth and adjustments to effect the selected registration.

By an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be seen that digital actuators 3 upon operation are afforded considerable angular movement in either direction before their teeth are engaged with the related intermediate gear 5. In other words, the phases of the cycle of operation of the actuating mechanism consist of idle, digital and tens transfer either forwardly or reversely. In the embodiment of the invention hereinafter described, the digital actuators 3 are adjusted during their idle phase of movement.

Means to locate the actuating mechanism in full cycle position upon operation of stopping means comprises a locator cam 17 (Fig. I) fixed on shaft 11 and having oppositelydisposed low portions engaged by rollers of spring urged locator arms 18 when the actuators are in full cycle position. Upon initial operation of the registering mechanism, arms 18 are urgedoutwardly to the high portions of cam 17 and a toggle 20 is thereupon setto prevent inward movement of the arms as the machine is cycled. Upon operationof the stopping means, actuators 3, 4 are overrun beyond full cycle position andmechanism connected therewith by the stopping means is carried against a fixed stop and then rebounded with the actuators toward full cycle position. Uponthe overrun of the parts, a hook arm 21 connected to the parts which are carried to thefixed stop is rocked counterclockwise and thereupon engages and breaks toggle 20. Therefore, upon rebound ofthe parts, locator arms 18 will be moved inwardly to the low portions of cam- 17 thereby locating actuators 3 and 4= in fullcycle position. The stopping means and thedrivingconnectionsfor arm 21 therewith have not been shown in the drawings: as they form no part of the present invention and reference for a complete disclosure thereof is made to the aforenoted Patent #2,531,207.

Values selection means A keyboard havinga row of 0 to 9 digital value keys 22 (Figs. 1 and 2) for each digital actuator 3 comprises. the means for selectingthe values to be entered into said actuators. Keys 22. of each row arev held in retracted position by a spring 23 common to all of the keys of the row and engaging a shoulder at the right side (Fig. 2-) of the end of each. key stem. A spacing plate. 24 is provided for each of the key rows. Plates 24 are fixedly supported adjacent their ends by a pair of rods 25 which extend across the machine. Each plate 24 has upstanding portions 24a which in conjunction with'fixed rods 26 act as guides for the stems of keys 22. Keys 22 are limited in'their upward movement by lugs on the upper ends of portions: 24a extendingforwardly through openings in thestems of the keys.

Each row of keys 22 hasv a latchingv slide 28 which is adapted to hold any key in the related row in-depressed position and upon depression of any key-in the row the slide is moved to release any depressed key. Slides 28 are springurged (Fig. 1) toward the front ofthe machine and have a series. ofdepending lugs 28a each engaging a shoulder 22a at the left side (Fig. 2) of the end of the stem of a key 22. key 22, its shoulder 22a. willfengage a cam face of the related lug 28a and move the related slide 28 to the rear.

As shoulder 22a passes below lug; 2811, slide 28: will be.

allowed movement by itsspring toward'the' front: of the machine thereby positioningthe lug 28a above shoulder 22a to hold key 22 in depressed position. Each lug.28'a has an inclined face'at its forward. under side. Therefore, if a key 22 is latched in. depressed position and another key in the same row is depressed, the inclined face at the under side oflug 28a related to the latched key will be moved to the rear of shoulder 22a.of the key and spring 23 willthen beeffective to raise the key to retracted position, and the key now depressed .will be latched upon forward movement of slide 28'; Keys-22v perform no operation upon depression other than topositionthe ends of their' stems to control a'subsequent setting operation. It will be seen-that only the urge of retracting springs 23 is overcome-upon.depression of keys 22 and therefore minimum: and uniform resistanceto key depression is approached.

Difieren'tial se'ttirigfimeans A pair of complemental settingutrainsis associated .with each row of keys 22 and to actuator gears 3a and-3b respectively of the related digital actuator 3. Each pair of setting trains-includes apairvof slides 29' (Figs.- 1, 2 and 3). The slides 29 ofIeach-pair arelocated at op.-

Upon depression 1 ofv a phase of the registering mechanism. Counterclockwise posite sides of the spacing plates 24 and have upstanding lugs 29a. Each slide 29 is urged upwardly by a spring 30 to engage the lower edge of a slot in and adjacent each end of the slide, with rods 25 respectively. The slides are therefore yieldably mounted and may be moved downwardly from their normal positions.

Each slide 29 is held normally in rearward position (Fig. l) by a bell crank 31, one arm of which has pin and slot connection with its related slide. The other arm of each bell crank 31 has pin and slot connection with the forward arm of a. lever 32. The ends of the rearward arms of each pair of levers 32 of the complemental setting trains engage the cam surfaces 14a and 16a respectively (Figs. 4 and 5) of the cam plates 14 and 16 of the related pair of actuator gears 3a and 3b. Levers 32 are intermediately pivoted on a shaft 33 which is supportedon a pair of rockers 34. Rockers 34 are pivotally mounted at 35 on a pair of end plates 36 respectively. Plates 36 are located adjacent the inner faces of the right and left side frames respectively and the left plate only is shown in the drawings (Fig. 1).

A drive train for the setting trains includes a pair of cam arms 37 keyed onrock shaft 38 which extends acrossthe machine. One of the cam arms 37 engages a roller on shaft 33 adjacent the rightmost pair of levers 32 (Fig. l) and the other cam arm engages a roller of shaft 33 adjacent the leftmost pair of cam arms 32 (Fig; 3). When cam arms 37 are in normal counterclockwise position (Fig. 1) the-arms engage pins 34a thereby holding rockers 34 in normal clockwise position. The rightmost camarm 37 has link connection. 39 (Fig. 1) with the left locator arm 18 of locator cam 17.

Operation ofthe difierential setting means Upon initial operationof the registering mechanism, full cyclelocator cam. 17 (Fig. 1) will rock the locator arm 18 connected withlink 39 counterclockwise. This operation will be effected during theaforenoted idle movement of arm- 18 will move connected link 39 forwardly. thereby. rockingcam arms 37 clockwise. Cam arms 37 engaging the rollers on shaft 33 will raise the shaft counterclockwise on its mounting on rockers 34 to the positionshown. in Fig. 3. Levers 32 mounted on shaft 33, in their upward movement, will tend to move the related cam. plates 14, 16 inwardly toward one another and to rock bell cranks 31 counterclockwise thereby moving-connected'slides 29 toward the front of the machine.

Unless the stem of a set digit key is in the path of' movement of a lug 29a of'a slide 29, there will be no hindrance other thanfrictional to its forward movement. However,,the inward movement of the related cam plate 14 or 16 (Figs. 4'and 5) will be resisted by spring 12 of actuator gears. 3a, 3b. The. ineffective movement of one of the levers 32.with the 0 key 22 set and all of the l-9keys 22 in the related row in retracted position is as follows.

Upon upward movement of the lever 32, resistance to attendant movement of its rearward end engaging a cam surface 14a or 16a will be much greater by virtue of spring-.12 than will be the resistance to such movement of its'forward end. engaging a bell crank 31. Therefore, no movement will be afforded the rearward end of levee 32'and it will be rocked clockwise about shaft 33. Clockwise movement of lever 32 will rock the connectedbell' crank 31 counterclockwise and move the relatedslide 29; idly toward the front of the machine- (Figs. 4 and 5) will now be described with a key 22 lever 32 engaging a cam face 142;

set in the related key row. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1 that depression of the number three digit key 22 will position its stem a very slight distance to the front of a lug 29a of the related slide 29. Slide 29 will therefore be blocked from any appreciable forward movement and the connected bell crank 31 will be held in fixed position as shown in Fig. 3. Therefore when shaft 33 is raised, the forward end of lever 32 will be restrained by bell crank 31 and said lever will be rocked counterclockwise, thereby raising its rearward end, which engages cam face 140, the maximum distance. Thus cam plate 14 will be rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 5) to bring the three teeth of actuator gear 3.4 into position to engage the related intermediate gear 5 as the gear 3a is rotated beyond its idle phase of movement. it will be seen that, as shaft 33 is raised, predetermined degrees of forward movement are afforded slides 29 to engage their lugs with depressed keys 22 during which movement the related levers 32 are rocked clockwise. ther forward movement, levers 32 will then be rocked counterclockwise distances depending upon the distance to which the related slides have been moved before being restrained by the stems of depressed keys 22. Actuator gears 3a, 3b will therefore be adjusted in accordance with the digital value of the depressed key 22 in the related row. When the full cycle stopping means is operated and locator arms 18 (Fig. l) are moved to normal, cam arms 37 will be rocked counterclockwise to normal, thereby engaging pins 34a of rockers 34. Rockers 34, therefore, will be moved clockwise to normal, thereby moving slides 29 to their rearward positions and lowering levers 32 to their normal positions.

Means are provided to permit the entry of a new value into the keyboard during a registering operation. Such means comprises the yieldable spring mountings 30 of slides 29. Depression of a key 22 when a slide 29 is set in accordance with another key 22 will cause retraction of the stem of that key from engagement with the controlling lug 29a of the slide. Springs 12 (Fig. 5) acting through cam surface 14a or 16a will tend to move the rear end of the associated lever 32 downwardly. However, frictional resistance at the point of engagement of the lever with the cam surface and that of the connected parts is sufiicient to prevent movement of the parts from adjusted position, although lug 290 no longer engages the key stem to limit forward move ment of slide 29. Lugs 29a of slides 29 are inclined downwardly toward the rear. Therefore when slides 29 are retracted to the rear, the inclined edges of lugs 29a and the yield of springs 30 will permit the passage of the lugs beneath the stems of the depressed keys 22.

Although the invention has been disclosed as embodied in the type of machine wherein the registering means has an idle phase, certain aspects of the invention are applicable to machines of a different type. For example, actuator setting trains operating in accordance with the principles herein disclosed could be operated by a setting clutch prior to the engagement of the actuator driving means in a machine in which the actuators have no idle phase of operation. Also it will be obvious that the invention is equally applicable to use with a single unit actuator where a single setting train would perform the differential adjustments. It will be understood, therefore, that the invention is to be restricted only as necessitated by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a calculating machine having a register, actuating means for said register including an ordinal series of differentially settable actuators, and driving means for said actuating means; means for setting each of said actuators respectively in accordance with selected values, comprising an ordinal row of settable value keys, a slide having lugs thereon and movable to engage one of its lugs with the stem of a set one of said keys, a

When the slides 29 are restrained from furbell crank having an arm in driving connection with said slide, a lever having an arm in driving connection with the other arm of said bell crank, a cam element for adjusting said actuator and engaged by the other arm of said lever, a rockable mounting for said lever, and a drive train driven by said driving means for rocking said mounting.

2. In a calculating machine having a register, actuat ing means for said register including an ordinal series of differential actuators each comprising a pair of stepped gears spring urged apart and adjustable each toward the other to bring selected combinations of the teeth thereof into driving relation with said register, and driving means for said actuating means; means for setting each of said actuators respectively in accordance With selected values, comprising an ordinal row of settable value keys, a pair of slides having lugs thereon and each movable to engage one of its lugs with the stem of a set one of said keys, a pair of hell cranks each having an arm in driving connection with one of said slides respectively, a pair of levers each having an arm in driving connection with the other arms respectively of said cranks, a pair of cam elements for adjusting said gears and engaged by the other arms respectively of said levers, a rockable mounting for said levers, and a drive train driven by said driving means for rocking said mounting.

3. In a calculating machine having a register, actuating means for said register including ditferentially settable actuators, driving means for said actuating means; means for entering selected values into said actuators, comprising the combination of ordinal rows of depressible value keys, latching means for each of said key rows for holding any key in the related row in depressed position and movable upon depression of a key to release any depressed key in said row, and an ordinal series of differentially operable setting trains for said actuators associated with said key rows respectively; each of said trains including a slide having lugs thereon and movable from a normal position upon operation of said train to engage one of its lugs with the stem of a depressed key in the related key row, a drive train driven by said driving means for operating said setting trains, means operable to restore said slides to normal, and yieldable mounting means for said slides whereby the lugs thereof are permitted passage beneath the stems of depressed keys upon movement of said slides to normal.

4. In a calculating machine having a register, cyclically operable actuating means for said register including an ordinal series of differential actuators having an idle phase of operation during each cycle; each of said actuators comprising a plurality of differentially settable elements, and driving means for said actuating means; means for setting each of said actuators respectively in accord ance with selected values, comprising a differentially operable setting train for each element of said actuator and complementary operable to set selected values into said actuator, a row of settable value keys each operable when set to control the complemental operation of said trains to set said actuator in accordance with the value of the set key, and a drive train driven by said driving means for operating said setting trains during the idle phase of said actuator.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

